Historic Bridges in Iowa
3,036 bridges built before 1951 in Iowa still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 3,036 bridges in Iowa built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old, many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RACCOON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 46 |
| CEDAR CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 62 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 40 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| SMALL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| BRUSHY CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| KEIGLEY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| SKUNK RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| UPPER IOWA | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 393 |
| UPPER IOWA | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 393 |
| NICHOLS CR | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 42 |
| STAFF CR | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 16 |
| ODEBOLT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| OLD MANS CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| SMALL | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 130 |
| PRAIRIE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 16 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 35 |
| WAPSIPINICON RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 393 |
| SMALL STREAM | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 90 |
| SUGAR CREEK BRANCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| BONNELL CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 370 |
| SUGAR CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
| LOST CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 120 |
| DEAD DOG RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 44 |
| BR OF LITTLE WHITEBREAST | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 11 |
| WATERWAY | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 259 |
| FIELD DRAINAGE DITCH | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 259 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 29 |
| NORTH RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 477 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 597 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| DRAINAGE | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| PLEASANT CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| SOUTH TIMBER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| MINERVA CR | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 26 |
| CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 20 |
| NE NORWAY CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 50 |
| COTTONWOOD CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| SOLDIER CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 159 |
| TARKIO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 159 |
| TARKIO CREEK | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| NISHNABOTNA TRIB | Iowa | Poor | 1949 | 77 | 29 |
| SMITH RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 560 |
| PINE CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 60 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Good | 1949 | 77 | 21 |
| LITTLE OCHEYDAN RIVER | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 15 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 41 |
| DRY RUN | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 34 |
| OTTER CREEK | Iowa | Fair | 1949 | 77 | 30 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.